Faro

Faro: history & character

Faro, founded in Roman times as Ossonoba, was occupied by the Visigoths and then the Moors (who gave it its modern name, derived from the founder Harun ibn Habib) until the Christian reconquest by Alfonso III of Portugal in 1249. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake devastated the city, which was rebuilt in its current neoclassical style around the still-standing medieval Cidade Velha. Now the administrative and university capital of the Algarve (66,000 people), Faro is also the tourist gateway to southern Portugal thanks to its international airport (FAO) with direct flights from 30+ European cities. For travellers with a dog, Faro is one of the most complete Atlantic dog-friendly destinations: a 15-min walkable Cidade Velha, the 18,000-hectare Ria Formosa Natural Park at the city edge, year-round dog beaches on the barrier islands via ferry, a 24/7 veterinary hospital in the centre, and pet supplements 8-12 €/night — among the lowest in southern Europe.